our 2023 year in review

January

We started the year celebrating Lolo’s second birthday! She started potty training and is doing so well. Couldn’t be more proud of our little BIG girl. We also decided to finally work on our From April’s Kitchen Blog and get the website live to host all April’s recipes. We took some new branding shots for it to make everything official! April began to shoot recipes each week and really enjoys the entire process. Troy started the year with some big goals with Team Church Org, and began prepping for his upcoming travel and events. He went to San Antonio for a Team Church Road Event (1 of 5 this year!).

February

In February April’s sister Jana Mae and Brother-in law Kenan visited us and we got to snuggle our nephew baby Judah! Troy began traveling for work and mommy held down the fort! Lolo’s personality continues to flourish and develop and we know we are bias but we think she is just the best hang. Lolo’s dearest friend Ansley-Marie had a birthday and Lolo got to celebrate with her. We got away for a weekend for our annual marriage retreat and had the best time setting our goals for the year and simply just investing in our marriage! Troy traveled to St Louis MO for Team Church Road Event 2 of 5 :)

march

After 14 months of trying, we found out we got pregnant! The emotions surrounding this process were some of the highest and lowest of April’s life. For anyone struggling with infertility, we have so much empathy and compassion for you. We truly feel God has been so gracious with us and we are crazy blessed to bring another little one into the world. Troy and Pastor Sheila are finding their mojo leading our Bellevue Church Location. Lolo found out that she also likes holding a microphone ;) April kept cooking delicious food, and continued to prep and prepare to get From April’s Kitchen live.

April

Oh you know, the best month ;) April felt so much love for her birthday! San Diego State (where Troy went to college) made it to the Final Four for March Madness so that was so fun to watch and be a part of. We celebrated Easter at our church and Lolo decided she wanted the microphone on stage! April launched her food blog “From April’s Kitchen” and the launch was very successful. She plans on writing a new recipe each week. Anyone that would like to sign up to receive them can do so here. Troy’s parents came for a quick visit and we had a blast as always. Troy was on the road in Ohio and Idaho for Team Church Events 3 and 4!

May

In May, April’s shop had their first pop-up at a Mother’s Day Event and it was a big success (and a lot of work). We also visited some old town Issaquah sights and continued to explore our neck of the woods. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in downtown Seattle and it was perfection! April felt all the early pregnancy ailments and tried to rest as much as possible. We spent lots of time outside when the weather was nice, and Lolo got a balance bike from her neighbors and fell in love with it. Troy started bringing Lolo home a present each time he travelled, and now she asks for one (or two…) every time.

JUNE

In June, we visited Pasados - an animal rescue and Lolo loved seeing all the animals. We started grilling each week and enjoyed our backyard that we finally finished planting all our gardens and landscaping. At the end of June we went to Bremerton to the Bremerton Bridge Blast to watch April’s mom put on a firework show. We got to watch from a retired naval ship.

July

Troy continued taking Lolo to “school” down in Tacoma every Tuesday (the organization provides free childcare for staff), and Lolo loves going and playing with all her friends. April continued to cook recipes for From April’s Kitchen. Lolo got an Easter Basket with a little Precious Moments Prayer book from April’s Aunt Tami and Lolo started to pray and it melted our hearts each time. We got to see baby GIRL Pollock on the ultrasound and she continued to grow healthy and strong. My sister, brother-in-law Kenan, and nephew Judah visited from London and we had so much fun hanging at my mom’s house.

August

We served at our church’s Team Church Conference where Troy has a full year under his belt at Executive Director. We sold out the conference and it was a huge success all around. We got to host a lab session together on How to Build a Thriving Legacy-Minded Team which was really fun and enjoyable. Troy’s brother, our nephews, and some of their Church team also came to the conference which was super special. Troy’s parents flew up to be with Lolo and Bear and they were even able to come to some of the conference. April’s mom had hip replacement surgery and everything went extremely well. She healed very quickly and it’s great for her to not have any more hip pain. Troy turned 41 and we celebrated with friends on a Donut Cruise on South Lake Union.

September

Another season change…we welcomed fall. April had her baby shower at 7 months pregnant, and was extremely blessed by all our friends and family. Troy officiated his first wedding for our friends Andrew and Morgan Petrik. We also headed to our favorite spot - VEGAS for our babymoon and got to each at Catch (the best meal April has every had). April continued to get Inflectra infusions every eight weeks to stay in remission from Ulcerative Colitis. Troy continued to be behind the camera for all April’s influencing campaigns. Our APCO Instagram account got hacked and ultimately deleted, so we made the hard decision to rebrand to RAËLIV. We hope you enjoy the new site :) Troy’s brother Matt released his first book and Troy was happy to be a part of the publishing process and April was happy to be a part of the back end taxes and business set up.

October

RAËLIV celebrated two years in business! April was busy doing all sorts of rebranding - getting new packing and marketing materials. RAËLIV continued to sponsor Hope For Heroes Gala for the non-profit organization Stronger Families. Lolo started preschool at Sammamish Hills Preschool and she absolutely loves it. We are blessed to have her there. We were a part of a local high school’s homecoming game as April’s mom did the halftime firework show. Lolo continued to LOVE helping mommy in the kitchen. With April being 8+ months pregnant, we were nesting, resting, and preparing for our new arrival.

November

Our Mia Grace Pollock was born on November 7th, and she is simply perfect. We are in love. Shout out to our family holding down the fort while we were at the hospital. We feel a sense of peace knowing our family is complete. Mommy and baby are doing well, no complications. Troy quickly traveled down to Orange County for a Team Church event, and then down to Scottsdale for Team Church Insiders. April home with two kiddos is definitely a new challenge but we made it through and we are blessed to be able to allow Troy to travel for work and to help so many people and churches.

December

Here we are! The last month of the year. We celebrate Lolo’s third birthday on the 24th and the theme is “Three Under The Sea” - it’s going to be so much fun! Baby Mia is growing, smiling, and such a little love. And if you have read this far, we are giving you a standing ovation. We know you are extremely busy and the fact you are interested in our year means so much!

What we’ve learned as a family this year:

1) When communicating, don’t aim to be clear enough so that you can be understood. Aim to be so clear that you cannot be misunderstood.
2) Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow, but it empties today of strength.
3) Give more than you get. Leave more than you take.

(and a bonus: two kids is not easier than one no matter what they say ha!)

Our wish for you this next year is that you grow closer to the people that bring the best out of you, that you find joy in the journey, and that you know in your knower that you matter, you are loved, and you are enough.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Love,

Troy, April, Lolo, Baby Mia & Bear